Man jailed after murdering ex-wife at son’s grave in Stubbington | UK News

A man who lay in wait for five hours at a cemetery in order to kill his ex-wife has been jailed for a minimum of 27 years and 230 days.

Martin Suter, 68, previously pleaded guilty to murdering 71-year-old Ann Blackwood at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington, Hampshire, in July 2023.

Suter, of Lee-on-the-Solent, repeatedly stabbed her by their son’s grave on what would have been his 36th birthday, Portsmouth Crown Court was told.

Imposing a life sentence, Judge Michael Bowes KC told Suter: “You brutally murdered Ann Blackwood in the most cruel and agonising way you could.”

Warning: The following report contains distressing details

Suter waited for about five hours at the cemetery on 24 July before attacking Ms Blackwood, from Lee-on-the-Solent, when she arrived on a bicycle.

Robert O’Sullivan KC, prosecuting, said: “The defendant stabbed her in the back with a kitchen knife and, the blade having broken off with the first blow, he repeatedly stabbed her in the neck with a pair of scissors that she had brought with her to cut the flowers she had planned to put on her son’s grave.”

Suter then called 999 from the graveside to confess, blaming Ms Blackwood for their son’s suicide and saying his life had been ruined by her.

Members of the public saw the victim on the ground and asked if they could help, the court heard.

Mr Suter replied: “No, she’s dead – I killed her. I called the police. It’s been 40 years. I couldn’t take it any more.”

The couple’s teenage son Christopher died in 2003 at the age of 15 and the couple divorced the following year, the court heard.

In a victim personal statement, the victim’s brother, John Blackwood, said she was the “hub of the family… affable, inoffensive” and had many friends.

The statement, read by a barrister, continued: “Her shocking and brutal death has sorely impacted many people. The family hub has been splintered in the most grotesque manner possible.”

A further victim statement from friend Catherine Jay paid tribute to a “loyal friend, devoted mother and vibrant presence”.

On 11 May 2023, about two months before the murder, the defendant pleaded guilty in a separate case to indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14.

Judge Bowes imposed a four-month sentence for that offence and an additional 27 years and 109 days for murder.

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